Propellant retainer



Patented Dec. 16, 1947 Re Hall;z Alexandria, Va,.-,vfassigno13s tr` United.- States-of. America;-asiirepresentedabythe Secretaryof. Wari.

ApplicatmrA February. 7, 19314; fseriarvNo; ,521,420

1` i This'iinventi'onsreiates'ito aiidericeforV retaining propellentV chargesi-in cartridge: cases. x. Certainfi semiexedz l.ammurn'tion'` now'. very generar use i comprises a :metal cartridge casehave ing Sa;iprimer'tubeexterrding: for. -a considerable distance finto fthe. oase: andzziin': closevproximityt toV of screwreyes secured -in the lbasent the lease, 1

through which a cord is threaded-andtiedaibout the powderbags.- Y -Thisv means .it-.is inconvenient, since lit involves the use of special tools, and considerableA time is consumed'i-nfelecting thertie:

Ihe" oloject- 'ofthis invention is to provide a retainer formed of suitable-'materiaL preferably spring Wire of-suitable gauge andA resiliency lthat can be quickly and 'conveniently forcedJ over the primer 4tube to apointl adjacent `its rear end,"and adjacent the YinnerV wall of: the base of the cartridge case and grip the tube in a way to resist any force that might be applied to it in effecting an efiicient' tie;

The device about to be described provides a convenient means for quickly, conveniently, and accurately assembling the device with the primer tube, and whose retentive characteristics insure i that the charge will not be dislodged during handling of the piece of ammunition, and not become dislodged or broken up in ring the charge.

To the above recited ends, the device comprises a retainer wire or wires primarily in expanded or spread shape, but adapted to be forced into nal shape and retained therein by a holding ring or keeper or keepers, the arrangement being such that the distortion of the wire when forced over the primer causes the retainer to grip the primer tube with a force abundantly sufcient to retain the charge, and itself be retained on the tube during firing of the charge.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the rear portion of a cartridge case showing the first increment of the powder charge retained therein by our improved means.

Figure 2 is a face view of the device in form for placement upon the primer tube.

Figure 3 is a face View of the retainer while in expanded or spreadvcondition, or in the shape in which it is before it is conned in its holding ring.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the holding ring.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the application of a slightly modied form 2 claims (ciutat-'ssr- 2 ofthe sdevic'eg'f madeirofetwofloops of- `wire finstead ofonea f Figure Slis. aiface' view .of the modied form.;

JFigurer'lris anee'dgeiviewandFiguref is a view expanded, of one of the loops.

:Figure-:Slis a .erossL-section .on line 91-5- 91 of Figmiei-6:5 'i

Figure loi-isiazperspective view'of thev form or powder-bag for 'thev retention: ofzwhich; the retaineriisespecially designed.

jRe'frrin'gtoffthe drawing; theA numeral lA designatesftl'ie cartridge case and lathe primer tube, both'io'fs Well.l knownl design.. YAn increment ofthe powder-"ohargeisshown at3. This in the. present li-rrstance--iscontained -in'latubula'r bag 4 have ing a -longitudinalopening a` therethrough.. As is--well Ckrimi/mathe `material' of the bagv is so thin Iand otherwise characterized as not to.v interferewiththe ignitionrof the charge; and adapted torbe'consumedluporr the explosion of the charge.

Thelifetain'er tirrits completed form. as shown inlFgu'e 2-'--will1berst`describecl. It comprises two parts; facontinuous.retaining wire 5 and 'a lioldirlglr'ing-il,A the Iwires presenting two oppositelyidisposedloops 'l1 and `a central slightly elliptical porton-8gi which lis the tube engaging portioni'fanditwolaterally-extending arms 9.V The ring'fis in' Lone 'pieceiwithi overlapped ends' brazed or otherwise secured together. It is provided with three slightly elongated circumferential slots I0 of a width and an end shape to snugly embrace the wire, each slot I0 being intersected by an axial slot I0 of a width suicient to permit the passage of the inner portions of the loops 1, and the arms 9 when the sides of the loops and the arms are pinched together, when said sides and arms thereafter expand into the slots I0, thus completing the assembly which is now adapted to be placed on to the primer tube and positioned against the inner wall of the cartridge case, as shown in Figure 1. When in the positioned indicated the loops 1 extend radially from the tube and form eyes through which the tying cords Il are threaded. These cords are carried forward through the cylindrical opening a in the charge increment and tied at its front, as clearly shown in Figure 1. As shown in this figure, the holding ring 6 does not touch the primer tube, the intimate attachment of the retainer depending upon the binding force of the elliptical portion 8 of the wire, increasing the frictional contact between the retainer and tube.

The shape of the wire before it is attached to the holding ring 6 is shown in Figure 3, it being obvious that when the arms 9 are sprung together and the inner parts of the loops are pinched together 'and forced into the slots I0 and l0' in the ring, they will assume the shape shown in Figure 2. After assembly, the ends of the arms 9 are attened, as shown in Figure 2, to pre- 3 vent accidental removal of these arms from the slots ID.

In Figures 6 through 9 and in Figure 5 which illustrates the modification, there are shown two identical yoke-shaped retaining wires I2 having slightly oval central portions I3 and legs I4 with outturned ends l5, the yokes being adapted to be longitudinally assembled in reverse directions. In assembling the yokes, the legs are pressed together and passed through identical keepers I6, the outturned ends I 5 preventing separation of the yokes. As stated, the central portion of the yokes are slightly oval to assure a tight frictional fit on the primer tube, due to the shape, character of the wire, and the very considerable force with which the retainer is pushed on the primer tube. This rm contact between the tube and retainer in this form, is due to the fact that the wire contact is incident to the side by side position of the two yokes.

In Figure 5 it is shown that the cords Il are threaded through the rounded ends of the yokes,

which form eyes, as in the main forms.

We have illustrated the powder charge increment as contained in a tubular bag that lends itself advantageously to the reception of the ties shown, but obviously bags of other shape may be secured in the case, with the illustrated retainer.

In effecting the tie, the separate cords Il, of proper length, will be threaded through the loops I and through the central opening a in the powder bag and their ends will be tied together as shown.

We claim:

1. A device for retaining a propellent charge in a semi-xed ammunition cartridge case having a primer tube therein, said device comprising two yoke-shaped members, the loop ends of which form eyes for the passage of tie cords when the members are assembled, said members being formed with central oppositely disposed bowed portions and oppositely disposed legs, said members being adapted to be assembled longitudinally in reverse directions, and keepers embracing the 4 legs of said members to hold said members in assembled position.

2. In semi-xed ammunition, the combination of a cartridge case, a primer tube therein having an uninterrupted peripheral surface, a device for anchoring an ammunition increment of a propellent charge in said cartridge case, said device including a pair of substantially U-shaped members, each having `a bight portion and leg portions diverging therefrom, each of said leg portions having an arcuate section intermediate the ends thereof, said members being in side-by-Side relationship with the respective bight portions of said members extending in opposite directions and said arcuate sections of corresponding leg portions of said members being aligned, means joining the free ends of said leg portions of one member to respective leg portions of the other member intermediate the bight and arcuate sections thereof, said arcuate sections being frictionally retained on said primer tube surface by the inherent resiliency of said leg portions and means on said bight portions for attaching the ammuni.. tion increment to said device.

NELSON ANDERSON. RICHARD R. HAIL.

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 503,096 Mohr Aug. 8, 1893 1,538,359 Pearson May 19, 1925 2,178,595 McCormick NOV. 7, 1939 2,178,599 McCormick Nov. 7, 1939 2,330,200 Bomar Sept. 28, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Y Number Country Date 813,397 France Feb. 22, 1937 

